Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, has dumped his health minister, Willie Reuben Abel.
The prime minister's media spokesperson, Dick Tete, says Mr Abel had failed to carry out Council of Ministers directives to improve the health sector in Vanuatu.
Mr Kilman has met with the Medical Council to discuss the ministers's sacking.
At the beginning of this year, Mr Kilman said 2012 was an important year for his coalition government because it is election year.
He had called on ministers and civil servants to deliver the best of their service for the benefit of the people of Vanuatu.
Mr Abel was elected in 2008 on the Vanuaaku Party ticket but joined Mr Kilman last year during one of a series of motions of no confidence.
